Dental caries and mutans streptococci in relation to plasma ascorbic acid.

Ascorbic acid (AA) affects in vitro growth of bacteria and may also act in vivo to decrease caries activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association of AA level in plasma with number of caries lesions, relative numbers of some species of oral cariogenic flora, and rate of salivary secretion. The caries status and some bacteriologic variables of dentulous adult subjects with a low level of AA in the plasma (< or = 25 mumol/l; n = 75) were compared with those of controls (plasma level > or = 50 mumol/l; n = 75) matched for age, sex, and number of teeth. For each subject, site-specific recordings of the presence or absence of plaque, dental caries, fillings, and erosions were recorded clinically by the same dentist in a double-blind system. The amounts of visible plaque and numbers of decayed tooth surfaces were significantly higher in the low AA group than in the controls. No between-group differences were found in the number of fillings and the amount of oral bacterial growth. The frequencies of consumption of vegetables, berries, and other fruit were significantly lower in the low AA group than in the controls.

Periodontal health related to plasma ascorbic acid.

The exact relationship between plaque-induced periodontal diseases and vitamin C deficiency is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effect of ascorbic acid (AA) on the severity of periodontal diseases. The periodontal condition of 75 dentulous subjects with a low level of AA in the plasma (< or = 25 mumol/l) was compared with that of 75 control subjects (plasma level > or = 50 mumol/l) matched for age, sex and number of teeth. The subjects were asked to list foods containing AA in their diet, and intake of AA in milligrams per day was calculated. The daily diet of the study subjects contained on average 52 mg +/- 24.9 (SD) of AA, and that of the controls 77 mg +/- 43.2 (SD). For each individual, site-specific recordings for the presence or absence of plaque and supra- and subgingival calculus, filling overhangs, gingival bleeding after probing, probing pocket depth, and gingival recession were made clinically in a double blind examination carried out by one dentist. Five per cent of the subjects in the study group (low plasma level of AA) and 18 per cent of the controls had healthy periodontal tissues. The proportion of sites in which bleeding after probing and a probing pocket depth of 4 mm or over were observed was significantly higher in the study group than in the controls. Sixty per cent of the subjects in the study group and 37 per cent of the controls had pathological pockets of 4 mm or over.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Oral mucosal changes related to plasma ascorbic acid levels.

The role of vitamin C in maintaining mucosal health is poorly documented. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of oral mucosal lesions in subjects with low ascorbic acid (AA) levels in plasma. AA plasma levels of 843 working elderly people in six rural villages in Eastern Finland were determined. All subjects with low plasma AA levels (< or = 25 mumol/l) (n = 106) formed the study group. Controls with normal AA levels (> or = 50 mumol/l) (n = 103) were drawn from the same population. They were matched for age, sex and number of teeth. Oral mucosal lesions in all subjects were recorded clinically using a double-blind method in all subjects. Petechias, leukoplakia and lichenoid lesions were the commonest lesions of the oral mucosa. Only in leukoplakia there was a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.01). Smokers had more leukoplakia than non-smokers. The prevalence of leukoplakia was higher when smoking was combined with AA deficiency.

Multivitamin supplementation of adult omnivores and lactovegetarians: circulating levels of vitamin A, D and E, lipids, apolipoproteins and selenium.

Serum levels of fat-soluble vitamins, lipids, apolipoproteins, total protein, hemoglobin, iron, and selenium were determined in healthy Finnish adults during a 7-month period beginning in January and ending in August. The subjects were either omnivores or established lactovegetarians, who had consumed their respective diets for at least 6 months prior to the study. Half of the subjects in both groups received daily multivitamin supplementation and the other half served as controls. In the beginning, the lactovegetarians differed from the omnivores in having lower serum levels of protein, apolipoproteins A-I and C-II, and higher levels of standardized alpha-tocopherol. During the study, serum retinol and standardized alpha-tocopherol (in March and May), as well as apolipoproteins A-I and C-II, and selenium decreased in the omnivores and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and the HDL-cholesterol/cholesterol ratio increased. Apolipoprotein B decreased and then increased. In the lactovegetarians, serum selenium and protein decreased during the study, whereas retinol and alpha-tocopherol stayed higher than in the omnivores. Consumption of the lactovegetarian diet was accompanied by lower circulating levels of cholesterol and selenium and higher levels of retinol and standardized alpha-tocopherol than the mixed diet. Multivitamin supplementation may have value especially for omnivores in northern countries, like Finland, in providing better retinol, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin D, and selenium status in late winter and early spring.

Caries, periodontal status and some salivary factors in lactovegetarians.

Twenty-eight lactovegetarians as well as age- and sex-matched controls were interviewed about their dietary habits, especially the frequency of ingesting acid fruits, drinks and foods, as well as their dental health habits. Samples of stimulated saliva were collected in connection with the clinical and radiologic study. Plaque, Gingival and Calculus Indices were not significantly different in lactovegetarians and controls. Of the lactovegetarians 76.9% and of the controls none had dental erosions on some tooth surfaces. In lactovegetarians the rate of flow of stimulated saliva was lower than in controls but did not decrease with advancing age as it did in controls. Salivary pH was lower in lactovegetarians than in controls.

Factors related to changes in periodontal treatment need over a 1-year follow-up.

Changes in Periodontal treatment need measured by the modified Periodontal Treatment Need System were investigated among employees of a Finnish paper mill. The investigation consisted of two clinical studies with a 1-year period between them, and three surveys to collect background information. After 1 year there was improvement in at least one jaw segment of 45% of the subjects and deterioration in 18%. Both improvement and deterioration were observed in another 10% of the subjects, and the remaining 27% had no changes in their dentulous jaw segments. The frequency of dental visits increase during the interim year. Changes in periodontal condition were in the main not significantly influenced by socioeconomic factors, dental health behavior, or dietary habits. Likewise, professional periodontal treatment did not have any significant effect on changes in periodontal condition.

The need for periodontal treatment in relation to socioeconomic status and health behavior.

Socioeconomic factors, detal status, health behaviour and some environmental factors were scrutinized in relation to the need for periodontal treatment. A linear multiple regression model was fitted to test which variables best explain the need of periodontal treatment. The subjects (315) of the study were employees of a paper mill in Finland. The periodontal status was classified according to a modified Periodontal Treatment Need System. The data on background variables was collected by a self-administered questionnaire. About 30% of the treatment need could be explained with the above factors. The order of the factors determining the periodontal treatment need was: number of teeth (13.3%), age (13.2%), education (0.9%), toothbrushing frequency (0.6%), and use of chewing gum (0.3%).